Editor's note: Matt Cassel, the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback behind Christian Ponder, is trying to re-establish himself in his first year with the team after an up-and-down career. Cassel, 31, is the latest subject in Pioneer Press sports columnist Bob Sansevere's continuing series of first-person stories.

You strive to be the best you can be. I think I have a lot of football left, and the great part about the NFL is, from one year to the next, you can change how people view you. You can change what people thought about you the year before. And that's the great part about having a fresh start and being with a new team.

I'm just a down-to-earth kind of guy. What you see is what you get. I'm going to work hard. I'm going to give you everything I've got. I care about my family, and I'm a very loyal and dedicated person.

This happened when I was in high school: I threw a party when I wasn't supposed to and my mom came home the next day. Unfortunately, about 15 of the people were still at my house sleeping on the floor. I don't think my mom was too happy with that.

Burping. I can't stand burping. I'm OK with baby kids being burped, but when a grown man standing next to me has a nervous burp before a game, I'm like, "Please, just keep it in." And chewing with your mouth open. That's a pet peeve, too. I always ask them, "Please close your mouth."

I think as a quarterback and as a competitor you're always grumpy after a loss.

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At the same time, I try to separate what I do for a living and my family life. I've got kids and a wonderful, beautiful wife. And when you go home, you can't take it out on them. My wife understands. She played sports. I always say she's the best athlete in the family. She was a national champion at USC. She was the team captain in volleyball. She was a heck of an athlete. When I go home, she understands what you're going through internally. But you have to be able to separate that because the kids don't understand it. When I go home, I'm dad to them.

I have a 3-year-old, almost a 2-year-old and now an 8-week-old baby boy. This is a busy household. There wasn't one person in this world happier when we broke camp than my wife.

Since the day I met my wife, I knew she was the one. From our first date on, we've never broken up. We've just had a great relationship. I met her going into my sophomore year (in college, at USC). She was in the parking lot on her bike and I was driving by on my bike with a group of guys, and I thought it would be funny to say, "Lauren, what are we going to name our children?" That was my pickup line and, sure enough, we have three children now.

Man, if I had a time machine, I think I'd like to go back to see where my family came from in Ireland, and see where my roots are.

He-Man, for sure, was awesome to watch as a kid. Skeletor was going down every time.

I'd like to be Superman if I could be any superhero. I'd like to fly, especially with three kids. I'd just pick them up and take them with me.

I was a big Pop Tart fan as a kid. Any time I could get a Pop Tart with cinnamon and a little glaze on top I was a happy boy.

I'm a big breakfast guy. I love breakfast. I like a good corn-beef hash with well-done bacon on the side.

In high school, I played football and baseball. We had a great baseball team at Chatsworth High School (in California). I played first base, third base, pitched a little bit. No basketball for me. I can't shoot to save my life. Now, I can give you some good fouls in the low post, but in terms of actually shooting the basketball into the hoop, I had some problems with that.

I always felt fortunate and blessed to be able to play sports, but I went to USC to get my education. I graduated in four years. I had a major in communications and a minor in business. During my time there, I did internships in real estate and with Wells Fargo on the financial management side. I had a number of different ideas (about a career) but I didn't really know until I got an opportunity to go to New England (to play for the Patriots).

I don't know if I want to be on TV when my football career is over. If it comes up, it might be a possibility I look into. It's always been something that's interesting to me and it also keeps you involved in the game.

I love "Step Brothers." I think it's hilarious because I grew up with an older brother and a younger brother. The bickering and back and forth between the two makes me giggle every time.

Best movie of all time? I'm a big "Tombstone" fan. You can't go wrong with that. I just love old Westerns, and that one always gets me going.

I'm pretty sure all my friends would say I'm a little crazy but, at the same time, all my friends know I haven't changed whether I'm playing in the NFL or doing something else for a living. They all know me and know I love them and I'm loyal.

I played video games a little bit in college, but I'd rather read a book.

I like all kinds of music. I like old-school rock to a little bit of heavy metal. A little bit of rap. Right now, I'm more into this big house techno phase. I don't know why. It just gets you fired up in the morning.

I like "Family Guy" and also "Modern Family."

If I could trade places for a day with anyone, it'd be a professional golfer. I'd like to see what it's like to be Phil Mickelson and play a little golf on the PGA Tour.

I want my epitaph to say, "Here lies Matt Cassel, who was a dedicated father, a dedicated husband, a dedicated teammate and somebody who you always knew what you were getting, which was love and respect."